Slip and fall accidents cause extensive and serious injuries every year. These physical injuries can result in medical expenses, loss of earning potential, lost wages, permanent disabilities, and pain, and suffering. These accidents can be due to the negligence and recklessness of one or more parties.
The parties at fault can be held accountable, and you can seek compensation for the damages by filing a claim. So to increase the value of the compensation you can seek through the claim, you must know about the common misconceptions surrounding this topic.
1) You can only seek compensation for physical injuries
Slip and fall accidents do not only encompass physical injuries like broken bones, torn muscles, spinal injuries, or traumatic brain injuries. They also include psychological and emotional injuries. Even though they are not tangible injuries, they can have a far-encompassing impact on the victim’s life. Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder are among the few psychological traumas that can alter the quality of life after a slip and fall accident.
2) You cannot claim if the accident occurred on public property
When a slip and fall accident occurs on private property such as in a store or the office premises, determining the liable party is easy. But when a slip and fall accident occurs on public property, people think that they do not have a chance of seeking compensation. But this is not true because the government or a private party either owns public places. So you can file a claim and seek compensation.
3) You cannot claim if you are partially responsible for the accident
Some people feel they cannot seek compensation for the injuries because they may have contributed to the accident. But despite this, victims can still seek compensation for the damage they have sustained, but the settlement amount may be lowered. The level of negligence of each party involved is converted to percentages, which are then used to calculate the settlement.
How to claim for your Slip and fall accident?
To file a claim and hold the liable parties accountable, you will need to prove that they were negligent and this behavior of theirs contributed to your slip and fall accident. You also need to prove the extent and severity of your physical and psychological injuries that have resulted from the slip and fall accident. This is why you will need a record of all treatments you received and injuries you sustained from your doctor.
Moreover, you will also need witness statements and pictures of the scene. This requires proper investigation, disposal of resources, and negotiation skills that victims recovering from the accident do not have. So you must consult with an Atlanta based Personal Injury Attorney who will help you with your case.
In conclusion
Slip and fall accidents can be detrimental to your physical health as well as your mental well-being. They can result in serious injuries and cause significant psychological trauma. This is why you can file a slip and fall claim to seek monetary compensation for the damages you sustain due to the accident.
The compensation will not only cover your medical expenses or lost wages, but it will also cover your loss of quality of life, pain and sufferings, loss of earning potential, and much more. Slip and fall lawyers can help you file for the claim and receive the rightful compensation from the liable parties.